Born on the Kansas frontier, Sharlot M. Hall came to Prescott as a teenager, just like many who call the city their hometown today. For young Sharlot, the Hall’s family Orchard Ranch near the confluence of Lynx Creek and the Agua Fria River—half a continent away from her Lincoln County, Kansas, birthplace—was strange but similar, with four seasons—and plenty of wind. Of course, mountains surrounded the Agua Fria Valley of the Hall’s Arizona homestead, and the weather in Yavapai County is droughty and dry compared to the central plains of Kansas. Yet, the work of a farm girl was no different in Arizona in 1882, and growing up, Sharlot worked hard side-by-side with her parents and brother to assure their homestead was a success.

Nearly a century since Sharlot Hall saved the Territorial Governor’s Mansion and over 140 years since the Hall family transplanted themselves from central Kansas to central Arizona, the community of Prescott continues to grow and benefit from a constant and consistent stream of good people deciding, just like Sharlot’s family did in 1882, to move to Prescott and Yavapai County. Everyday new residents join families who have made our beautiful community home as long as the Halls—or longer. But the dreams remain the same: they moved to Prescott and Yavapai County to stake their claim and future in our community and make it their new hometown. They are here to work hard, achieve their dreams, and for those like Sharlot’s parents, raise a family. Others are here to retire from their vocations and careers but discover the renewal that comes from retirement and repurpose one’s life to community, charity, and volunteerism.

We at Sharlot Hall Museum have been the beneficiaries of generations of men and women—and their children—who have moved here and adopted Sharlot Hall Museum as their hometown treasure. We dedicate ourselves every day to fulfilling the mission of Sharlot Hall—and working diligently to be the best “hometown” museum for all our residents—new and old—young and retired—curious and keen.

We invite you to become a member of our museum, join us as a volunteer, visit our exhibits, stroll the gardens and grounds, discover the magic of a Living History Saturday, and inspire your curiosity at our library and archives.

We welcome you to discover what inspired young Sharlot to pursue as her life’s work: the preservation and celebration of our shared Arizona history and
heritage—no matter if your family was here in 1864 or just arrived last year.